“It’s not normal.”
“It’smynormal.”
He stared at me, back to unimpressed. I could feel the imminent lecture brewing, so I cut it off fast.
“Bro. Chill. I’m fine. I got what we needed, I’m still alive, and Koa’s about to doWitch Murder Theater. It’s a good day.”
He muttered something that sounded suspiciously like “reckless little shit” under his breath, and I planned on sassing him more until I realized he’d stopped listening. His eyes were locked on his tablet. His entire demeanor shifted. The sharp, dangerous edge of him gentled, softened. His forefinger ghosted down the screen like he was tracing something delicate.
And I knewexactlywhat he was watching.
I dragged my shaky ass up and leaned over his shoulder, and there she was. Our wife. Curled in her favorite window seat, dead asleep. Sunlight catching in her curls. Surrounded by open tomes and unfinished sigils. Brumous, our sweet murder boy, at her feet like a furry bear trap.
Cas’ jaw tightened, like he was physically restraining himself from going to her.
“She drained herself, didn’t she?” I muttered. “Fighting the Red Lobster special? Little idiot.”
“Obviously, and don’t call her that.” His voice went hoarse. “But she’s safe now.”
“Yeah, safe,” I rasped. My chestachedwith how much I loved her. “Why’d she go down to the lake, anyway? Coulda stayed inside. Monster wouldn’t have been able to get in.”
“Don’t know yet, but from what I pieced together, Eluned conjured an illusion of Brummy. Led her into the trap.”
“We had him with us. She knew that.” I swiped a knuckle across one eye, then surreptitiously checked to make sure there was no blood. That would’ve been a bad sign. Fortunately, my skin was clean, meaning I hadn’t busted a vessel in my brain.
Still felt like it, though.
“Again, not sure, but I think she thoughtwewere in the lake,” Cas sighed. “Like we’d changed our plans and something happened. We’ll ask her later.”
“Yeah, let her sleep for now. Her boys are handling it.”
A scream floated up from the basement. Neither of us flinched. Some monsters showed mercy. We weren’tthosemonsters. Never would be.
“She doesn’t need to know.” Cas saved the library feed to his favorites folder.
“Agreed.”
Another scream, this one fainter and oddlywet, and I smiled. Ko was getting creative.
“My guy,” I smirked. “Oh, and Cas? One more thing.”
“Mmm?”
“That pet goat? Rasputin?”
“Eluned knew who Arabesque sold him to?” His voice was sharp as broken glass as he whipped his head around to stare at me. “Where is he?”
“A lie. He’s dead.”
“Shit!” He slammed his fist on the table, making monitors bounce.
“Yeah. Shit.”
Then my body also said, “Shit,” and my ass hit the floor.
20. In the Crucible
Casimir
